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BERLIN (AP) - The Washington-based Fulbright Association says its 2018 prize for international understanding will go to German Chancellor Angela MerkelThe organization said Tuesday it had decided to award the prestigious prize to Merkel "for her remarkable, compassionate leadership and her strong commitment to mutual understanding, international cooperation and peace."Merkel has been Germany's leader since 2005 and a central figure in international diplomacy and…

"American Renegades"J.K. Simmons and Sullivan Stapleton ("300: Rise of an Empire") star in this action film about a SEAL team who discover a treasure in a Bosnian lake. Director Steven Quale made "Final Destination 5."Rated PG-13. Playing at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston"Aquaman"Will this aquatic DC superhero swim to glory on the big screen or quickly drown without a trace? That's what comic-book-movie fans are asking about this $160 million film starring Jason Mamoa and directed by James Wan…

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Latest on allegations that a Texas state senator sent inappropriate text messages to a university graduate student: (all times local)6:15 p.mA Texas state senator accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to a graduate student says he doesn't "condone sexual misconduct of any kind" following an investigation launched by the University of Texas.A report released Tuesday by the…

GENEVA (AP) - The foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed Tuesday to facilitate convening the first session of a committee to draft a new Syrian constitution early next year, saying they hoped it will lead to the launch of a "viable and lasting" peace processIn a joint statement read out by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, they said the work of the committee should be governed by a "sense of compromise and constructive engagement."But U.N. Special Envoy for Syria…

HAVANA (AP) - Cuba's government said Tuesday that language promoting the legalization of gay marriage will be removed from the draft of a new constitution after widespread popular rejection of the ideaGay rights advocates had proposed eliminating the description of marriage as a union of a man and woman, changing it to the union of "two people ... with absolutely equal rights and obligations."That…

VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican on Tuesday released the first details of Pope Francis' upcoming high-stakes sex abuse prevention summit, making clear that bishops attending the gathering must reach out to victims before they get to Rome and that accountability is very much on the agendaOrganizers of the Feb. 21-24 summit warned participants in a letter that failure to address the scandal now threatens the very credibility of the Catholic Church around the world.As a first step, they urged the…

SANAA, Yemen (AP) - A cease-fire on Tuesday halted months of heavy fighting in Yemen's port city of Hodeida, raising hopes that the latest U.N.-led peace efforts can end the civil war and alleviate the world's worst humanitarian crisisBut the truce in the Red Sea city remains fragile, and it's unclear if the Saudi-backed government and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels can reach a wider peace…

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) - Sonoma County will pay $3 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of a California teenager who was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy while holding a pellet gunThe Press Democrat reports the settlement was approved unanimously Tuesday by the county Board of Supervisors, bringing to a close a lawsuit filed in November 2013 by the family of 13-year-old Andy Lopez.Lopez was fatally shot by Sonoma County sheriff's deputy Erick Gelhaus, who…